Griffin named top youth volunteer

Virginia City High School senior Cody Griffin was selected as a distinguished finalist in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Two Nevada students, one from Reno and one from Las Vegas, were awarded the honor of top youth volunteers, while another four were selected as distinguished finalists.

The nationwide program honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 11th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Griffin organized the first international youth exchange program for rural Northern Nevada youth. Working with officials from the Global Voice Project, Cody recruited student volunteers, served as a peer educator, led meetings, gave presentations, and raised funds to sponsor exchange visits with students from Northern Ireland and Mexico. In January, Griffin, along with six other students, spent 12 days in Mexico volunteering at a rural school. Griffin, salutatorian for the class of 2006, aided in the planning, construction and stocking of a library at the school.

"Cody has made such a positive contribution to our community," said Patrick Beckwith, principal of Virginia City High School. "It is tremendous to see young people who recognize their responsibility to society at large and then act upon it."

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is supported by National 4-H Council, Girl Scouts of the USA, American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, Points of Light Foundation, American Association of School Administrators, National Middle School Association, National School Board Association, Council of the Great City Schools, National Public Relations Association and many other national youth and service organizations.